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Those Who Served

Surname

Gnr. William Matthews . British Army 140th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery from Jarrow

(d.26th Feb 1919)

William Matthews served with 140th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery he was aged 30 when he died on 26th February 1919 in South Shields.
Born in Devonport, he lived in Jarrow and was the son of William and Emily Maria Matthews (nee Crabb) of Fowey, Croft Terrace, Jarrow. On the 1911 census he is recorded as William Matthews age 22 Draughtsman in Shipyard living with his parents William and Emily Maria Matthews and family at 40 Croft Terrace, Jarrow.

William is buried in Jarrow Cemetery and is commemorated on the Triptych in St. Paul's Church Jarrow.

Pte. James Francis Mattimoe . British Army 2nd Btn. York & Lancaster Regiment from Middlesbrough

(d.18th Sep 1918)

Frank Mattimoe was born on the 12th of Apr 1892 in Evenwood, Co.Durham. In December 1913 he had a son, John Edward Daykin.
On the 24th of November 1915 Frank enlisted in the 14th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, as Private No. 25251 Army Records. He is recroded as Height:5'9"; Weight:154lbs; Chest:36.5", Expanded:+2"; Trade: Barman;
Vision:D6/D6; Defects: Slight Flat Feet. On the 24th of February 1916 Frank was promoted to Unpaid Lance Corporal in the 81st Training Reserve and a month later was granted Pay of Lance Corporal.
On the 29th of July 1916 he was severely reprimanded for Neglect of Duty when acting as Company Orderly Corporal.
His daughter Esther Smith was born on the 25th of August.
He was promoted to Corporal on the 29th of September
His records show the s toppage of pay of 4d per day, paid to Lucy Ena Daykin for his illigitimate son on the 28th of June 1917.
On the 14th of July 1917 Frank married Hannah Smith at St. Patrick's Church, Middlesbrough. On the
5th of August 1917 he was deprived of his Lance Rank for striking a Private Soldier.

On the 18th of October 1917 Frank embarked from Folkestone with the 2nd Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment and disembarked at Boulgne the same day. He was wounded in action, on the 1st of December 1917, a Gun Shot Wound, Forearm, he was treated at Etaples and
ejoined the 2nd Battalion on the 16th.
On the 6th of February 1918 Frank was awarded 7 Days Field Punishment No.1. He was again wounded in action on the 21st of August 1918, this time a Gun Shot Wound Chest, it must have been slight, after treatment he rejoined his Battalion three days later.

Frank was killed in action at the Battle of Epehy on the 18th of September 1918 and is buried in Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Aisne, France.

Dvr. George W. Maude MM.. British Army 446th (1st/1st Northumbrian) Field Coy. Royal Engineers from Newcastle upon Tyne

(d.2nd Jan 1918)

My mother knew that at least one of her great uncles George Maude had died in the Great War but she was never quite sure because none of the family really talked about it. After some digging around I found that he had been killed on 2nd January 1918, but this information then led me to find two other brothers, Ernest and John Blackburn Maude, sadly none of them survived the War. George W died of bomb wounds on the arm and thigh at a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in January 1918 aged just 23 he is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. He did win a Military Medal but unfortunately I have no idea how, that has been lost forever in history. Ernest was the younger brother, aged just 18, he joined the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1915 he was wounded by a bullet to the head after just five days in France, he died a year later in the Northern Hospital, Liverpool, he was transported home to Newcastle where he is now buried. I have actually found his war grave and now it is tended to frequently. L/Cpl. John Blackburn was the eldest at 28 years, he was in the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers he was killed in action on Monday 26th February 1917 with a few ofhis comrades. He is buried in Vermelles, but remembered on Blaydon Cemetery Memorial.

That is about as much as I have been able to gather. The information has now dried up, their service records being destroyed by incendiary bombs during WW2. I have no photographs to see what they looked like, nothing to suggest what their personalities were like but at least we have found them and they are no longer forgotten which to me is very very precious.

Pte. Richard Maunder . British Army 18th Btn. London Regiment from Woolwich, London

Dick Maunder was my Grandfather, and served with the 18th Battalion London Regiment.
He was severely wounded and gassed and invalided out in late 1915. He spent the rest of his life with an artificial leg and in bad health.
After the war he lived and worked as a canteen manager at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich.

Maurice Maunders was born in Dagnall in 1889, the son of Mark and Lucy Maunders. When Maurice turned 16 he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, and in the 1911 Census he is shown as a member of H Company, 2nd Battalion, stationed in Saint George, Bermuda. After nearly seven years Maurice was discharged from the Regiment and placed on Military Reserve. On May 26th 1913, aged 23, Maurice was appointed Police Constable 14 in the Buckinghamshire Constabulary. After training in the constabulary headquarters in Aylesbury he was posted to the Northern Division and stationed at Brill.

Once war was declared Maurice rejoined the Bedfordshire Regiment, this time serving in the 1st Battalion. On 30th October 1914 Private Maurice Maunders, aged 25, was killed in action during the Battle of La Bassée. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

John Howard Mawdesley served with the 8th Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry during WW1 and died on the 27th December 1916, aged 32. He is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial near the Doiran Military Cemetery in Greece.

He was the son of William Henry Mawdsley, of Oakengates, Salop and husband of Alice Morris (formerly Mawdsley), of 16, Frame Lane, Doseley, Dawley, Salop.

Brigadier Francis Maxwell (Late 18th King George's Own Lancers)served with General Staff Commanding 27th Infantry Brigade, 9th Division during WW1 and was killed in action on the 21st September 1917, aged 46. He was buried in the Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.
Son of Thomas Maxwell, M.D., and Violet Sophia Maxwell, he was the husband of Charlotte Alice Hamilton Maxwell. The award CSI is Companion of the Star of India.

An extract taken from the London Gazette, dated 8th March, 1901, records the following:-
Lieutenant Maxwell was one of three Officers not belonging to Q Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, specially mentioned by Lord Roberts as having shown the greatest gallantry, and disregard of danger, in carrying out the self-imposed duty of saving the guns of that Battery during the affair at Korn Spruit on 31st March 1900. This Officer went out on five different occasions and assisted to bring in two guns and three limbers, one of which he, Captain Humphreys, and some Gunners, dragged in by hand. He also went out with Captain Humphreys and Lieutenant Stirling to try to get the last gun in, and remained there till the attempt was abandoned. During a previous Campaign (the Chitral Expedition of 1895) Lieutenant Maxwell displayed gallantry in the removal of the body of Lieutenant-Colonel F D Battye, Corps of Guides, under fire, for which, though recommended, he received no reward.

Henry Maxwell was born on 22nd November 1895, the younger son of Thomas Henry and Isabella Maxwell of this city.
A Captain in the 13th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, he was killed in action near Thiepval, 10th October 1916. His body rests in Mouquet Farm, Grandcourt, France.

My uncle John Maxwell was a signal boy on HMS Amphion. He was only 17
years of age when he was killed on 6th August 1914 only two days after the start of WW1.He was the first fatality from Edinburgh
He had been one of the first Boy Scouts in Edinburgh.His father Robert Maxwell was the church officer of St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh and condolences were given at a service in St Giles Cathedral.His name is recorded in a book of remembrance in the War Memorial Building in Edinburgh Castle and also on the Naval War Memorial in Plymouth.
His sister was my mother Agnes Tulloch (nee Maxwell) and I was named after him.

Jeffrey was born in 1899 and was killed in action in 1918.
It appears that he was bought up by his grandparents, John and Julia (née Drake). There is some question about the identity of Jeffrey's father, but he was probably john and Julia's son, Lancelot May.
Jeffrey's British Army records indicate that he was a slight lad. He enlisted in September 1917 and was killed in France on 28 May 1918.
He served with the 22nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry.
His name is listed on the Soissons Memorial by CWGC.
If there are further details about this young soldier, please let me know . . .
Lest we forget . . .
Thank you.

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